Planning permission in Dover

In the last 12 months, 90.9% of home project applications were approved in Dover (132 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 57 days).

Across all application types, 92.7% of 3,937 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on Dover's public planning register. Data last updated: 15 August 2026.

4,818Total applications

3,937Decided

92.7%Approval rate (of decided)

3,650 Approved+287 Refused+170 Withdrawn+670 Pending+41 Outcome not determined=4,818 Total

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By Development Category

All applications on record, not only the last 12 months.

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	1,451	1,319	132	90.9%
Discharging planning conditions	685	685	0	no refusals recorded
Tree works in a conservation area	418	397	21	95.0%
Listed Building Consent	208	189	19	90.9%
Protected tree works (TPO)	201	181	20	90.0%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	182	162	20	89.0%
Circ 34/76 O/Head Lines/28 Day Notificat	179	179	0	no refusals recorded
Changing a planning condition (S73)	137	132	5	96.4%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	110	94	16	85.5%
Advertisement Consent	64	60	4	93.8%
Larger extensions (householder prior approval)	50	46	4	92.0%
Prior approval (permitted development)	43	34	9	79.1%
Outline Planning	26	11	15	42.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	23	18	5	78.3%
Prior App Agricultural to Dwellings	21	13	8	61.9%
Overhead Line Exemption	21	21	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	118	109	9	mixed types

Discharging planning conditions: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Circ 34/76 O/Head Lines/28 Day Notificat: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Overhead Line Exemption: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: External Consultations (14), County Council Deemed Permission Reg 3 (11), BNG Conditions (10), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (9), Five day notice (8), Prior approval for solar panels (6), Application for Demolition (5), Environmental impact screening and scoping (5), Change of Use (5), Marine Licence (5), Listed Certificate Proposal (5), Prior App Agricultural to Flex Comm (4), Prior App COU from Comm/Bus to DWH (4), National Infrastructure Project (4), Variation/Modify of a S106 (3), Demolition (3), Prior Approval for Telecoms (3), Prior App Business to Dwellings (3), Permission in Principle (3), Prior two storey dwelling (2), Hedgerow Removal (2), External Scoping Opinions (1), County Council Deemed Permission Reg 4 (1), Prior approval Solar Canopy (1).

Quarterly Trend

The most recent three years. Earlier decisions are included in the totals above but not in this chart.

Quarter	Decided	Approved	Approval rate
Q3 2023	129	121	93.8%
Q4 2023	338	310	91.7%
Q1 2024	299	280	93.6%
Q2 2024	375	342	91.2%
Q3 2024	358	344	96.1%
Q4 2024	401	370	92.3%
Q1 2025	359	340	94.7%
Q2 2025	341	309	90.6%
Q3 2025	325	301	92.6%
Q4 2025	311	284	91.3%
Q1 2026	284	256	90.1%
Q2 2026	136	127	93.4%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	18	17	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 261 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 88.5% in Alkham And Capel-le-Ferne to 95.4% in Mill Hill, a gap of 6.9 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Little Stour And Ashstone	447	397	50	88.8%
Sandwich	438	417	21	95.2%
Guston Kingsdown St Margarets-at-Cliffe	428	402	26	93.9%
Eastry Rural	339	308	31	90.9%
North Deal	327	301	26	92.0%
Aylesham, Eythorne And Shepherdswell	319	294	25	92.2%
Town And Castle	261	246	15	94.3%
Walmer	250	235	15	94.0%
Dover Downs And River	238	215	23	90.3%
Mill Hill	197	188	9	95.4%
Whitfield	173	164	9	94.8%
Alkham And Capel-le-Ferne	157	139	18	88.5%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Dover?

In the last 12 months, 90.9% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Dover, based on 132 decided applications. Across all application types, 92.7% of 3,937 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Dover?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Dover in the last 12 months was 57 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Dover?

It depends on the project and the property. Many home projects fall under permitted development rights, but constraints such as conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions change what needs permission at a specific address. See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.

Do I need a planning consultant in Dover?

Many home projects do not need one. A straightforward extension on an unconstrained property is often handled directly with the council, or with an architect or agent preparing the drawings. A consultant is more likely to earn their fee where the site is constrained, the council has refused similar schemes, or an appeal is in prospect. Understanding your property's constraints and the council's recent decisions first makes any conversation with a professional a better-informed one.

Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights, Article 4 directions and planning costs.

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